Operation Stalemate

This refers to the article, ‘Operation Stalemate’ (May 24) by Dr Farrukh Saleem. The writer has highlighted the existing mistrust between the civilian and military leadership as the key reason behind the failure of anti-crime and anti-terrorism initiatives. He has cited Operation Zarb-e-Azb as the only success story whereas the other counterterrorism initiatives – fighting urban terrorism in Karachi, the National Action Plan, apex committees and the military courts – have been effectively stymied by the civilian leadership due to fears that the military could encroach upon their political power domain.
It is not only mistrust that is holding back our progress in the war on terror but also the incapacity of the civilian setup to take on crime and terrorism. The problem is that our civilian rulers in the centre and in Sindh treat an untrammelled campaign against crime, terrorism and venality as a direct threat to their spheres of political power and patronage. The civilian governments at the federal and provincial levels seem to be circumventing military-led efforts against crime.
Brig (r) Raashid Wali Janjua
Rawalpindi